Compare towns
Hampstead vs Dover vs Hooksett vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hampstead | Dover | Hooksett | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
2,308Lowest |
15,057Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.